The Africana Studies Program in the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis offers an MA degree with a broad interdisciplinary curriculum in the study of Africans and Afro-descendants globally, focusing mainly in the following geographical areas: Africa, North America, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. Students can concentrate in any one of these areas, compare and contrast between two or more areas, or take courses in all five of these areas.
The Master of Arts Program in Africana Studies prepares students interested in applying for PhD programs in history, literature, American studies, anthropology, communications, political science, sociology, economics and cinema studies, and for careers in education, cultural institutions, documentation, and public service.
The goals of the program include:
- Developing literacies in key research themes and topics on contemporary historical, ethnographic, cultural and political discourses in Africana studies.
- Improving writing proficiency and oral communication of ideas and cogent argumentation.
- Honing critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Preparing students for original research within interdisciplinary Africana Studies.
Additionally, an MA can be pursued as a joint degree with either Journalism, Economics, Library Information Science, or a concentration in Museum Studies. More information about the Africana MA and joint programs can be found in the Programs in Africana Studies page.